OSHC

SALIENT FEATURES OF
DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 13, series of 1998

Department Order No. 13 :

Otherwise known as the
Guidelines Governing
Occupational Safety and
Health in the Construction
Industry

D.O. 13 was Issued In the

Interest of:
Ensuring the protection and welfare of workers
employed in the construction industry,
Ensuring the protection and welfare of the
general public within and around the
immediate vicinity of any construction worksite,
as well as the promotion of harmonious
employer-employee relationships in the
construction industry.

Outline of Presentation
Section 2- Jurisdiction
Section3 Delegation of Authority and
Accreditation
Section 4 Coverage
Section 5 Construction Safety and Health
Program
Section 6 Personal Protective Equipment

Outline of Presentation
Section 7 Safety Personnel
Section 8- Emergency Occupational Health
Personnel and Facilities
Section 9 Construction Safety Signages
Section 10 - Safety on Construction Heavy
Equipment
Section 11 Construction Safety and Health
Committee

Outline of Presentation
Section 12 Safety and Health Information
Section 13 Construction Safety and Health
Training
Section 14 Construction Safety and Health
Reports
Section 15 Construction Workers Skills
Certificate

Outline of Presentation
Section 16 Workers Welfare Facilities
Section 17 Cost of construction Safety and
Health Program
Section 18 Miscellaneous
Section 19 Violations and penalties

OSHC

SALIENT FEATURES OF
DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 13, series of 1998
Content
: Section 1: Definition of terms
26 terms as used in the guidelines were defined in
order to clarify their meaning and to distinguish them
from similar terms as defined in other issuances

Section 2: Jurisdiction
The Secretary of the Department of Labor and
Employment, by virtue of Article 162 of the Labor Code
of the Philippines, has the authority to issue
appropriate laws related to the administration and
enforcement of occupational safety and health in the
Philippines

OSHC

SALIENT FEATURES OF
DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 13, series of 1998
Content:

Section 3: Delegation of Authority

DOLE has the power to delegate some enforcement
powers to other government agencies and to private
organizations provided that they have adequate
personnel and facilities (These cover Technical Safety
Inspections) ( boilers, pressure vessels, ICE, Electrical
installations, elevators, hoisting & other mechanical
equipment)
Chartered cities maybe allowed to conduct TSI and
general safety audit of construction project sites.

OSHC

SALIENT FEATURES OF
DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 13, series of 1998
Content:

Section 4: Coverage
The guidelines shall apply to all construction activities,
including demolition, whether owned by the private or
the government sector

OSHC

SALIENT FEATURES OF
DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 13, series of 1998
Content:

Section 5: Construction Safety and Health Program

Before the start of the actual construction, The
construction project manager shall prepare and submit
to DOLE a comprehensive construction safety and
health program (for approval of the Bureau of Working
Conditions or DOLE RO) which shall include, but not
limited to:
Composition of the construction safety and health
committee
Specific H&S policies within the construction site
Penalties for violation
Training of workers
Waste disposal

SALIENT FEATURES OF
DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 13, series of 1998
The cost of implementing the CSHP shall be
integrated into the projects construction cost,
that said cost shall be a separate pay item,
duly quantified and stated in the projects
tender documents and contract documents.

OSHC

SALIENT FEATURES OF
DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 13, series of 1998
Content:

Section 6: Personal Protective Equipment (Rule 1080 of

OSHS)
All employers shall at his own expense provide his
workers with adequate and approved personal protective
equipment whenever necessary by reasons of the
hazardous work environment he is working. All other
persons entering the construction site must wear the
necessary protective equipment. The equivalent cost for
the provision of PPE shall be an integral part of the
project cost.

OSHC

SALIENT FEATURES OF
DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 13, series of 1998
Content:

Section 7: Safety Personnel

The GC must provide for a full
time Safety Officer to oversee
the over all management of the
CSHP. Assist government
inspection at any time or during
conduct of accident
investigations. All full-time
safety and health personnel
must be accredited by DOLE.

SALIENT FEATURES OF
DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 13, series of
1998

Each construction subcontractor must

provide for a representative , who shall have
the same qualifications as the Safety
Man/Officer , to oversee the management of
the CSHP for the subcontractors workforce
with the requirements of Rule 1033 of the
OSHS.

OSHC

SALIENT FEATURES OF
DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 13, series of 1998
Safety Personnel
Min. # of Safety Officers
Number of Workers
Hazardous
Non-Hazardous
1 - 50
1 part-time
1 full-time
51 - 200
1 full-time
1 full-time & 1 part-time
201 - 250
1 F T & 1 P T 2 full-time
251 - 500
2 full-time
2 full-time & 1 part-time
Every addl 500 or
1 addl F T
fraction thereof
Every addl 250 or
1 addl FT
fraction thereof
1 Safetyman for every 10 units of heavy equipment

OSHC

SALIENT FEATURES OF
DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 13, series of 1998
Occupational Health Personnel
Number of Workers

OH Personnel

50 or less (first aider)

51 to 200 ( Full time registered nurse)
201 to 300 (FT RN, PT P & D)
more than 300( FT RN, FT P&D)

OSHC

SALIENT FEATURES OF
DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 13, series of 1998
Occupational Health Facilities
Per 100 workers in excess of 300

Within 5 kms. Or 25 min. of travel

The engagement of Emergency Health Provider shall be

considered as having complied with the requirement of
accessibility to the nearest hospital facilities.

OSHC

SALIENT FEATURES OF
DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 13, series of 1998
Content:

Section 8: Emergency Occupational Health Personnel and

Facilities
The same provisions of the existing Occupational Safety
and Health Standards(OSHS) are reiterated. The
provision for an emergency health provider was allowed.
The employer shall always have in the construction site
the required minimum inventory of medicines , supplies
and equipment as indicated in Table 47 of the OSHS.

OSHC

SALIENT FEATURES OF
DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 13, series of 1998
Content:

Section 9: Construction Safety Signages

Mandatory provision of safety and
warning signs are reiterated not only for
the protection of workers, but also the
public in general. Signs should conform
with the standard requirements of the
OSHS.

Mandatory Usage of PPE

Falling/ falling objects
Explosives and flammable substances
Tripping or slipping hazards
Toxic or irritant airborne contaminants/substances
Electrical facility
Dangerous moving parts of machines
Fire alarms/ fire fighting
Instructional signs/ Update of man-hours lost

WARNING: Hazardous
Area. All personnel
must wear protective
equipment before entry

Regularly inspected,
maintained in good
condition.

OSHC

SALIENT FEATURES OF
DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 13, series of 1998
Content:

Section 10: Safety on Construction Heavy Equipment

A specific guide for testing, transport, erection and
maintenance of heavy equipment is formulated. All heavy
equipment operators must be tested and certified by
TESDA, while heavy equipment shall be tested by DOLE
recognized association/organizations.

Daily routine inspection to be conducted by duly certified

mechanics/ operators, routine inspection by DOLE
accredited professionals.
Maintenance of a separate construction logbook for each
equipment

OSHC

SALIENT FEATURES OF
DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 13, series of 1998
Content:

Section 11: Construction Safety and Health Committee

All construction sites must have a
general Construction Safety and Health
Committee composed of safety and
health representatives from each subcontractor. The construction project
manager shall head the committee.
Each subcontractor shall have its own
safety and health committee based on
the existing requirements of the OSHS.

OSHC

SALIENT FEATURES OF
DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 13, series of 1998
Safety and Health Committee
Composition
Chairperson:
Secretary:
Members:

Project Manager
General Construction Safety and Health
Officer
Construction Safety and Health Officers
Safety Rep. from Subcontractors
Health Personnel
Workers Representatives(minimum of 3)

Duties
Plan, develop and oversee the implementation of accident
prevention programs

OSHC

SALIENT FEATURES OF
DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 13, series of 1998
Duties

Direct accident prevention efforts in accordance with rules/

program
Conducts toolbox meetings everyday
Review inspections and accident investigation reports
Prepare and submit to DOLE minutes of committee
meetings, work accidents and illnesses, and other reporting
requirements
Assist government inspectors
Initiate/ supervise safety and health training for employees
Develop and maintain a disaster contingency plan

OSHC

SALIENT FEATURES OF
DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 13, series of 1998
Content:

Section 12: Safety and Health Information

A detailed safety and health information system is
included in the guidelines. These include orientation,
instructions, and training for workers; means of
conveying safety related information to all workers
and specialized instructions and trainings for specialty
workers and operators

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SALIENT FEATURES OF
DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 13, series of
1998
Section 12.2 No person shall be deployed in a
construction site unless he has undergone a
safety and health awareness seminar
conducted by OSHC, BWC and other
concerned offices of DOLE or by safety
professionals or safety organizations or other
institutions DOLE has accredited or
recognized.

OSHC

SALIENT FEATURES OF
DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 13, series of 1998
General Safety and Health Measures ( Every worker shall
received instruction and training )

Basic rights and duties of workers

Emergency procedures (means of access & egress both normal and
emergency)
Good housekeeping
Welfare and first-aid facilities
Care and use of PPE
Personal hygiene and health protection
Fire precaution and action to be taken in case of any emergency
Safety and health rules and regulations

SALIENT FEATURES OF
DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 13, series of
1998
Daily tool box meeting or similar meetings prior
to starting the tasks for the day to discuss with
the workers and anticipate and health
problems related to every task and the
potential solutions to the problem. The
supervisor shall remind the workers on the
necessary safety precautions that need to be
undertaken.

OSHC

SALIENT FEATURES OF
DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 13, series of 1998
Content:

Section 13: Construction Safety and Health Training

All safety personnel assigned within
the construction site are required to
undergo the basic construction safety
training course prescribed by the
Bureau of Working Conditions.
Continuing training (minimum of 16
hours per year) for all full-time safety
personnel shall also be a responsibility
of each constructor.

OSHC

SALIENT FEATURES OF
DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 13, series of 1998
Specialized instruction and training

Operation of construction equipment

Erection or dismantling of scaffolds
Excavation works
Handling of explosives
Workers engaged in pile-driving
Compressed air, cofferdams, and caissons
Erection of steel structural frames and tall chimneys
Handling hazardous substance and materials
Rigging and signaling

OSHC

SALIENT FEATURES OF
DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 13, series of 1998
Content:

Section 14: Construction Safety and Health Reports

The monthly submission of summary
reports to DOLE is required. The
summary reports shall include safety
committee meeting agreements,
accident investigation reports, and
hazard assessments with
corresponding remedial
action/measures required.
Notification of major accidents to DOLE
within 24 hours

OSHC

SALIENT FEATURES OF
DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 13, series of 1998
Content:

Section 15: Construction Workers Skills

A Skills certificate shall be required for construction
related occupations which have been classified as
Critical Occupations by TESDA.
An occupational shall be considered as critical

When it may affect and endanger peoples lives and limbs

When it involves the handling of hazardous tools, equipment,
supplies
When it requires a relatively long period of education and
training
When the performance of the job may compromise the safety,
health and environment concerns within the immediate vicinity
of the construction site.

OSHC

SALIENT FEATURES OF
DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 13, series of 1998
Content:

Section 16: Workers Welfare Facilities

The employer shall provide for adequate supply of safe
drinking water, adequate sanitary and washing facilities
in order to ensure humane conditions of work.

Section 17: Cost of Construction Safety and Health Program

The total cost of the Construction Safety and Health
Program Shall be a mandatory integral part of the
construction project. It shall be treated as a separate pay
item and reflected in the projects bid tender documents.

OSHC

SALIENT FEATURES OF
DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 13, series of 1998
Content:

Section 18: Effects on Other Issuances Definition of terms

Provisions of other existing occupational safety and
health guidelines not inconsistent with this Guidelines
shall form part of this Department Order. Standards,
rules and regulations not specifically provided shall
remain in full force and effect. However, in the event that
any provisions of the Guidelines is declared invalid by
competent authority, the rest of the provisions thereof
not affected shall remain in full force and effect.

OSHC

SALIENT FEATURES OF
DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 13, series of 1998
Content:

Section 19: Violations and Penalties

Violations committed by constructors as determined by
DOLE after due process shall be considered as prima
facie case of a construction mal-performance of grave
consequence under RA 4566 (Constructors Licensing
Law) as amended and pertinent IRR.
In cases of imminent danger situations, the
procedures/requirements of the OSHS and DOLE
regulations shall be applied.

OSHC

SALIENT FEATURES OF
DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 13, series of 1998
Content:

Section 20: Effectivity

The Guidelines shall be immediately effective, that is, 15
days after publication in newspapers of general
circulation, as provided in Article 5 of the Labor Code.
D.O. No. 13, s.1998 was signed on July 23, 1998 and
published on August 1, 1998 in the Philippine Daily
Inquirer and on August 3, 1998 in Peoples Tonight

OSHC

SALIENT FEATURES OF
DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 13, series of 1998